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Lubitsch Musicals box set by Eclipse (Criterion) in February

#1
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11/16/07 at 1:07pm
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It seems that the rumours were true.
Dvd Beaver has announced that Eclipse is releasing a Lubitsch 4 disc box set on February 12th for a $59.95 list price.
The collection contains the aleready mentioned:Te Love Parade (1929), Monte Carlo (1930), The Smiling Lieutenant (1931) and One Hour With You (1932).
And I just checked on the Criterion home page and the box is already available for pre order.
Now we can really celebrate!
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#2
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11/16/07 at 1:37pm
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Re: Lubitsch Musicals box set by Eclipse (Criterion) in February

Awesome News!!

The more Lubitsch the better!
"Shoot a few scenes out of focus. I want to win the foreign film award."
Billy Wilder

"This business has come a long way in the last 30 years, but why should I depress you"
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#3
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11/16/07 at 1:49pm
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Re: Lubitsch Musicals box set by Eclipse (Criterion) in February

This just made my freakin' day. I'm not even kidding - best news ever. I knew we were getting at least one of these thanks to the newsletter hint, but the fact that The Smiling Lieutenant is included in the deal is absolutely incredible - I'm going to go right ahead and say that this is the most exciting and important release announced for 2008 for me - more so than any of the Warners stuff (which I'm also supremely stoked for). I love Criterion.
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#4
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11/16/07 at 4:18pm
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Re: Lubitsch Musicals box set by Eclipse (Criterion) in February

This is unbelievably great news!

Now, if Criterion could find a way to wrangle (from Universal) and package some of the many other fine Paramount pre-Codes--think more Miriam Hopkins, Mae West, Claudette Colbert, Fredric March, Kay Francis, Sylvia Sidney, Carole Lombard, Cary Grant, Gary Cooper--the good times would really continue...

Paramount Before the Code at Film Forum
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#5
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11/16/07 at 7:33pm
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Re: Lubitsch Musicals box set by Eclipse (Criterion) in February

Agreed, great news here, and more Universal-owned Paramount films would make terrific "Eclipse" box sets! In addition to those that Jon has mentioned, for me an even better prize would be the rumored box set of von Sternberg silents coming from Criterion. (Which are still owned by Paramount.) And maybe, just maybe, WEDDING MARCH and WINGS at last!

www.dannyburk.com

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#6
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11/17/07 at 8:27am
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Re: Lubitsch Musicals box set by Eclipse (Criterion) in February

Quote:
Originally Posted by Danny Burk
Agreed, great news here, and more Universal-owned Paramount films would make terrific "Eclipse" box sets! In addition to those that Jon has mentioned, for me an even better prize would be the rumored box set of von Sternberg silents coming from Criterion. (Which are still owned by Paramount.) And maybe, just maybe, WEDDING MARCH and WINGS at last!

Agreed, Danny. As for von Sternberg, there was a restored print of Underworld shown at this year's New York Film Festival so hopefully this bodes wells for the rumored von Sternberg set.

In the same spirit, I would love to see Criterion wrangle additional pre-Codes from the Fox coffers, for either Criterion or Eclipse release. If non-director Eclipse sets can be considered, a box devoted to Spencer Tracy's pre-Code Fox output would be excellent.

Also, a huge void would be filled, if there is any way to package the films of the mysterious (and sadly neglected) Rowland Brown: Quick Millions (Fox, with Tracy), Hell's Highway (RKO), and Blood Money (Fox, with George Bancroft).

Film Forum's Fox Before the Code

Re: Film Forum's Tracy at Fox sidebar, The Power and the Glory (written by Preston Sturges and co-starring Colleen Moore) should be added to any such discussion.
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#7
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11/17/07 at 8:57pm
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Re: Lubitsch Musicals box set by Eclipse (Criterion) in February

Maybe Criterion could bring out the remaining Marlene Dietrich/Josef von Sternberg films.
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#8
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11/18/07 at 7:07am
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Re: Lubitsch Musicals box set by Eclipse (Criterion) in February

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tim Tucker
Maybe Criterion could bring out the remaining Marlene Dietrich/Josef von Sternberg films.

They're all available in R2, although SHANGHAI EXPRESS could certainly be improved with restoration work.

www.dannyburk.com

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#9
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11/18/07 at 5:12pm
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Re: Lubitsch Musicals box set by Eclipse (Criterion) in February

Great News!!
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#10
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11/18/07 at 5:21pm
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Re: Lubitsch Musicals box set by Eclipse (Criterion) in February

SHANGHAI EXPRESS was once announced as coming out on DVD from Criterion, but it was pulled as a result of print quality issues.

Charles Hoyt

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#11
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11/18/07 at 6:38pm
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Re: Lubitsch Musicals box set by Eclipse (Criterion) in February

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jon Hertzberg
Also, a huge void would be filled, if there is any way to package the films of the mysterious (and sadly neglected) Rowland Brown: Quick Millions (Fox, with Tracy), Hell's Highway (RKO), and Blood Money (Fox, with George Bancroft).

How has Blood Money looked on FMC? It has been scheduled at least twice since the beginning of September. One showing was set for this past week, and it was apparently replaced. It's still scheduled for 6 a.m. ET Dec. 1, though.
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#12
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11/18/07 at 7:00pm
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Re: Lubitsch Musicals box set by Eclipse (Criterion) in February

Quote:
Originally Posted by Charles H
SHANGHAI EXPRESS was once announced as coming out on DVD from Criterion, but it was pulled as a result of print quality issues.
Given the quality of Criterion's The Scarlet Empress, it must have been in terrible shape.
BARBARA WRIGHT: You're from Earth?
MORTON DILL: No... no, ma'am, I... I'm from Alabama.
Doctor Who: Flight Through Eternity
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#13
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11/18/07 at 7:16pm
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Re: Lubitsch Musicals box set by Eclipse (Criterion) in February

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dan McW
How has Blood Money looked on FMC? It has been scheduled at least twice since the beginning of September. One showing was set for this past week, and it was apparently replaced. It's still scheduled for 6 a.m. ET Dec. 1, though.

I don't know since I don't have FMC. I am curious, too. Have they also shown Quick Millions?

Film Forum showed a new print of Blood Money during their "Fox Before the Code" series, which was in the last year. Perhaps the FMC transfer is sourced from the same print?
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#14
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11/18/07 at 9:55pm
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Re: Lubitsch Musicals box set by Eclipse (Criterion) in February

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jon Hertzberg
I am curious, too. Have they also shown Quick Millions?

Haven't seen that one on the schedule. Blood Money seemed like a "new" film for FMC. I've had the channel for about 3 1/2 years, and that's one of the few older titles that hasn't been aired and rerun periodically during that time.
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#15
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11/19/07 at 4:57am
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Re: Lubitsch Musicals box set by Eclipse (Criterion) in February

Great news about the Lubitsch box set! I never expected those films to ever see the light of day on DVD!

I taped Blood Money off of FMC last week. The print was less than steller. It looked like a first generation dupe; picture was dark and unsharp. Very little restoration was done on it.
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#16
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11/19/07 at 5:40am
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Re: Lubitsch Musicals box set by Eclipse (Criterion) in February

Really thrilled about this - best Criterion news ever for me!!!
Sing your worries away, smile, be kind and accentuate the positive!
DVD wish list: The Accused (48), Margie (46), I'll Get By (50), The Constant Nymph (43), The Voice of the Turtle (47), The Barretts of Wimpole Street (34), Her Twelve Men (54), The Lost Moment (47), I Walk Alone (48), The Glass...
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#17
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11/30/07 at 9:10am
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Re: Lubitsch Musicals box set by Eclipse (Criterion) in February

I know 2008 is not yet even here but for me this will already be one of the year's top releases. I checked the Criterion website but I have not yet seen an announcement of the details, and I am particularly interested in finding out if the The Smiling Lieutenant (1931) , once thought to be a "lost" film, is being presented without the Danish subtitles found on the existing print. (The film was re-discovered in a Danish archive, and even the print MOMA is showing this week will have the Danish subtitles.)
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#18
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11/30/07 at 9:56am
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Re: Lubitsch Musicals box set by Eclipse (Criterion) in February

Quote:
Originally Posted by Richard M S
I know 2008 is not yet even here but for me this will already be one of the year's top releases. I checked the Criterion website but I have not yet seen an announcement of the details, and I am particularly interested in finding out if the The Smiling Lieutenant (1931) , once thought to be a "lost" film, is being presented without the Danish subtitles found on the existing print. (The film was re-discovered in a Danish archive, and even the print MOMA is showing this week will have the Danish subtitles.)

I've seen The Smiling Lieutenant at the Gene Siskel Film Center in Chicago and on Turner Classic Movies, and it definitely didn't have Danish subtitles either time.
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#19
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11/30/07 at 10:51am
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Re: Lubitsch Musicals box set by Eclipse (Criterion) in February

Thanks, I guess the sub-titled print MOMA is showing is their only one.

However at least that means the DVD should be free of subtitles.
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#20
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11/30/07 at 11:33am
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Re: Lubitsch Musicals box set by Eclipse (Criterion) in February

Yeah I caught this on TCM about two years back, and their print definitely didn't have subs, so I'll assume the Criterion version won't have 'em.

Is it Feb. 5 yet?
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#21
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11/30/07 at 2:48pm
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Re: Lubitsch Musicals box set by Eclipse (Criterion) in February

Yes, this is great news! And "Wings" would please me even more. :-)
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#22
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2/6/08 at 10:25am
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Re: Lubitsch Musicals box set by Eclipse (Criterion) in February

Really looking forward to this set! Both those who loves musicals and those who love pre-codes will be in sheer cinematic heaven I think. The Beaver has some screen shots on his site and there is also a review on DVDTalk. I can hardly wait!!! I can finally get rid of my old TV-taped copies!
Sing your worries away, smile, be kind and accentuate the positive!
DVD wish list: The Accused (48), Margie (46), I'll Get By (50), The Constant Nymph (43), The Voice of the Turtle (47), The Barretts of Wimpole Street (34), Her Twelve Men (54), The Lost Moment (47), I Walk Alone (48), The Glass...
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#23
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2/19/08 at 5:05pm
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Re: Lubitsch Musicals box set by Eclipse (Criterion) in February

Now that the collection has been released, I presume it meets the expectations of the people who have commented about the set. It has received favorable reviews by Leonard Maltin, Mike La Salle in the S.F. Chronicle and on NPR's FreshAir. While it is only February, any comments about the set being on any of the 2008 Top 10 DVD or Box Set lists?
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#24
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2/19/08 at 8:26pm
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Re: Lubitsch Musicals box set by Eclipse (Criterion) in February

A set was requested for me to review, but Criterion was not forthcoming, sad to say.
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#25
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2/20/08 at 8:10am
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Re: Lubitsch Musicals box set by Eclipse (Criterion) in February

I picked it up last week. It's a bare-bones set, with each film on its own disc, no extras and and some of the dullest artwork you'll ever find.

But it's the films themselves that count and each one is gloriously transferred, with film grain reflecting the films' age but with shimmering black and white photography and that wonderfully crisp early Paramount sound. As with the old laserdisc transfers, "The Smiling Lieutenant" looks the best, probably since rights problems kept the negatives untouched for decades.

My only complaint, and its a mixed one, is with "One Hour With You." The laserdisc used UCLA's restoration print, with many tinted scenes and exit music. The print here is a beautiful, digitally cleaned-up black and white print with no exit music.
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#26
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2/20/08 at 2:04pm
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Re: Lubitsch Musicals box set by Eclipse (Criterion) in February

Quote:
Originally Posted by haroldS
Now that the collection has been released, I presume it meets the expectations of the people who have commented about the set. It has received favorable reviews by Leonard Maltin, Mike La Salle in the S.F. Chronicle and on NPR's FreshAir. While it is only February, any comments about the set being on any of the 2008 Top 10 DVD or Box Set lists?

I'm very happy with the set- it'll certainly be on MY top ten list!
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